East Hartford Democrats Give Larson Mayoral Nod

EAST HARTFORD — The Democratic Party overwhelmingly picked Tim Larson as its candidate for mayor Thursday.

Larson beat challenger Henry Genga in a 64-34 town committee vote. There was one abstention.

``I'm excited,'' Larson said after an unofficial tally was announced. ``This is great. I'm just so happy.''

It appeared late Thursday that Genga would wage a primary. While he didn't say so directly, he implied it in a written statement that he gave to the press earlier in the evening.

No Republican candidate for mayor had surfaced as of Thursday.

There also was competition in the Democrats' town council race. Until committee member and substitute teacher Marc Weinberg withdrew from the race, there were eight candidates for six council seats. Weinberg, who raised some eyebrows during his campaign when he said school security guards should carry stun guns, wasn't specific about why he decided to withdraw.

``I'm just going back to my business tomorrow just like any other day,'' said Neal, who owns an electronics distributorship, with a smile. He may run in two years, he said.

LeBeau, Kehoe, Driscoll and Bates are incumbents. Dwyer and Karlson are newcomers to the political arena.

LeBeau is a teacher in the school system; Kehoe is a special counsel to the attorney general; Driscoll is a lawyer; and Bates owns a local accounting business.

Dwyer is a corporate travel agent, and Karlson -- the youngest candidate, at 27 -- owns a law firm in town with his father.

Endorsed by a voice vote for the board of education were three incumbents, Chairwoman Hilde Mayranen, Kathy Randall and Joseph Balesano.

The mayoral votes were cast at the end of the convention, which lasted more than three hours.

A few Democrats sported Tim Larson T-shirts and buttons, but the real tipoff that Larson would win the endorsement came after he was nominated. Richard Gentile -- who is stepping down as council chairman -- finished his nomination speech to thunderous applause.

Many of Larson's family members were there with him to celebrate, including his brother John Larson, a former state Senate president pro tem who may make a second run for governor.

``I'll be out canvassing for my brother,'' John Larson said.

Tim Larson is the youngest of eight children. He was on the council for three years, serving as chairman and vice chairman. More recently, he was Mayor Robert M. DeCrescenzo's assistant for 10 months. He is a partner at Larson & Lysik Insurance Inc. and has been active in community organizations ranging from Little League to The Interfaith Ministry.

Genga has been town treasurer since 1985, and before that was a town councilman for 10 years. He was majority leader from 1976 to 1985.

Typically a top vote-getter, Genga is chairman of both the retirement board and the emergency medical services commission. He worked at Travelers for 30 years until his job was eliminated three years ago. Now, he helps high school students find jobs through the Area Cooperative Education Services. He also is well-known around town as an umpire.